SWA and MAGICAL EXPRESS: This would be GREAT, wouldn't it?!

[lynninpa]

"...The Magical Express Cast Member told us that in a few weeks
Southwest Airlines will be participating in the complete Magical
Express program, including the ability to check in your luggage
at the resort for the airline when leaving."
(a quote from the most recent All Ears Newsletter)

 

[minnie411]

That would super; now if we can only get the Swan & Dolphin to participate in Magical Express all would be perfect in my world

 

[lynninpa]

That would super; now if we can only get the Swan & Dolphin to participate in Magical Express all would be perfect in my world

 

[IBelieve207]

a quote from the most recent All Ears Newsletter:
"...The Magical Express Cast Member told us that in a few weeks
Southwest Airlines will be participating in the complete Magical
Express program, including the ability to check in your luggage
at the resort for the airline when leaving."

How soon? We'll be flying SWA 3/24 & 3/31. It would be awesome to have resort check in for departure day.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I heard the biggest problem was checking in 24hr in advance and getting your As. Once you do this the Bags people couldn't do a check luggage because you were already checked in.So I hope this is all taken care of.
They should be able to just reprint your boarding pass and check your luggage if all is working well.

The biggest thing fr us will be adjusting on not doing a bunch of shopping on our last day as well normally rearriang our bags to fit it all in.

I would love for this as luggage just gets in the way of having fun on the last day.

 

[Edd]

The cast member doesn't know a thing about the Southwest participation problem. It is a software problem that has been discussed on another thread. Go check it out and you will probably realize a cast member would not be able to give you a correct answer.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Southwest Airlines' passengers have had the full use of Disney's Magical Express service since the launch of the the service -- just not the use of the optional Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) service.

I flew Southwest last week (not to Florida) for the first time this century. I printed an online boarding. I was surprised just how different the Southwest boarding passes are compared to typical airline boarding passes. For example, Southwest relies on a checkboard-style optical code that's quite unlike what other airlines use.

I'm distrustful of rumors that the addition of Southwest is imminent.

So far, RAC does not include Southwest, and there has been no official announcement from Disney or BAGS (the provider of RAC) that Southwest will be a RAC participant on any particular date.

Until the answer is yes, the answer is no.

If and when all necessary software changes have been made to BAGS' systems and Southwest's systems to allow the systems to inter-operate properly, there will undoubtedly first be a pilot program at a few selected resorts to make sure everything works.

The pilot program for AirTran started a number of months ago, and AirTran is still not an official RAC participant.

 

[goofy4tink]

That would super; now if we can only get the Swan & Dolphin to participate in Magical Express all would be perfect in my world

It's not a choice that they get to make. Only those resorts owned by Disney are eligible. The S/D already pay extra for the benefit of park buses. Ah well, it's just one of those little annoyences we have to deal with.

 

[Lewisc]

RAC started at the same time as DME and is listed as one of the features of DME. Southwest passengers don't have full use of DME because they're not eligible to use RAC. I'll agree some (many) passengers get confused between incoming luggage and outgoing luggage (RAC).

I wonder if the airtran pilot, being limited to deluxe resorts and CSR, means Disney is considering limiting the RAC program to those resorts. BAGS is now handling valet and bell services. They may be providing RAC for a lower price, maybe even free, as part of the deal.

Southwest Airlines' passengers have had the full use of Disney's Magical Express service since the launch of the the service -- just not the use of the optional Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) service.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Southwest passengers don't have full use of DME because they're not eligible to use RAC.

Lewisc,

I'm not sure why you're disagreeing with me.

We're saying the same thing in different words. Southwest passengers can use all DME transportation and inbound luggage services, but not RAC. I agree that RAC is part of the overall DME strategy (and is promoted under the DME umbrella), even though it's actually a separate, optional service. It's possible to use DME without RAC, as well as RAC without DME.

There continues to be confusion about the definition of "participating airlines." The list of "participating airlines" only appears in relation to RAC, but people who read DME information are looking for why the service is "too good to be true." Some people who see the "participating airlines" list don't read carefully enough to realize that it only applies to RAC. It's doesn't help that some travel agents and some Disney CMs have made the same error, and thus provide misinformation to guests who want to use DME.

 

[Lewisc]

Because in this case the OP was accurate. You're "correction" wasn't accurate.

I'm still wondering if free RAC will wind up being limited to deluxe and CSR resorts.

Lewisc,

I'm not sure why you're disagreeing with me.

.

 

[salmoneous]

We've heard similar rumors many times in the past. One of these days it will be true. Maybe this is the one! But in the meantime, don't go getting your hopes up.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Because in this case the OP was accurate. You're "correction" wasn't accurate.

I wasn't disagreeing with the OP or correcting the OP. And despite your assertion that what I wrote wasn't accurate, everything that I wrote in this thread is accurate or is clearly identified as an opinion.

I'm still wondering if free RAC will wind up being limited to deluxe and CSR resorts.

Personally, I doubt it. Currently, RAC is free at all Disney-operated resorts at WDW. Of course, we can speculate about what could and might happen in the future, but there really isn't any real evidence that RAC will change (except that the list of airlines is likely to grow).

I don't see Disney making RAC more complicated, with resorts that "participate" and "don't participate." I also can't see RAC being free for the guests who tend to be more affluent (and thus pay to stay at deluxe resorts), but RAC requiring an upcharge for the most price-sensitive guests.

RAC is part of Disney's cost structure at all Disney-operated resorts. Guests at Moderate and Value resorts still pay a substantial premium over low-end off-site lodging. There are several good justifications for paying the premium, and RAC is latest one.

 

[Lewisc]

The OP was edited. The OP, as is currently posted, is 100% accurate and any "correction" is not needed.

BAGS is now handling valet and I think bell services at WDW Convention customers (convention center) can get RAC bundled with valet and coat check services through BAGS.

Airtran is now just running at deluxe and CSR. You're probably right. DME (including RAC) alows Disney to justify charging more. It probably also reduces some of the pressure for late check outs.

I wasn't disagreeing with the OP or correcting the OP. And despite your assertion that what I write wasn't accurate, everything that I wrote in this thread is accurate or is clearly identified as an opinion.


Personally, I doubt it. Currently, RAC is free at all Disney-operated resorts at WDW. Of course, we can speculate about what could and might happen in the future, but there really isn't any real evidence that RAC will change (except that the list of airlines is likely to grow).

I don't see Disney making RAC more complicated, with resorts that "participate" and "don't participate." I also can't see RAC being free for the guests who tend to be more affluent (and thus pay to stay at deluxe resorts), but RAC requiring an upcharge for the most price-sensitive guests.

RAC is part of Disney's cost structure at all Disney-operated resorts. Guests at Moderate and Value resorts still pay a substantial premium over low-end off-site lodging. There are several good justifications for paying the premium, and RAC is latest one.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The OP was edited. The OP, as is currently posted, is 100% accurate and any "correction" is not needed.

Again, I did not make a correction. I commented on the OP's post, and provided clarification for other people who read this board.

Also, I expressed the opinion that I'm distrustful of rumors that the addition of Southwest is imminent. I could be right and I could be wrong about that opinion.

However, in regards to your assertion that "OP, as is currently posted, is 100% accurate," are you saying that you know for an absolute fact that Southwest will become a full-fledged RAC participant in a few weeks?

 

[Lewisc]

Sorry. I had a problem "correcting the OP" when you said SW customers currently have full use of DME. The OP made it clear that full use means SW customers get to use RAC. That was the basis of my post.

Many credible posters have said SW has signed on. Several posters have said there is a computer issue.

I interpert the "few weeks" comment as only meaning the final details are being worked on and SW should be added soon. I don't doubt some DME employees may be saying a few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if they're testing "in a few weeks" nor would I be surprised if a "few weeks" becomes a month or two.

Again I only had a problem with saying SW customers currently have full use of DME when the posters in this thread are using "full use" to include the portion of DME that's known as RAC.

Again, I did not make a correction. I commented on the OP's post, and provided clarification for other people who read this board.

Also, I expressed the opinion that I'm distrustful of rumors that the addition of Southwest is imminent. I could be right and I could be wrong about that opinion.

However, in regards to your assertion that "OP, as is currently posted, is 100% accurate," are you saying that you know for an absolute fact that Southwest become a full-ledged RAC participant in a few weeks?

 

[DebbieB]

I heard the biggest problem was checking in 24hr in advance and getting your As. Once you do this the Bags people couldn't do a check luggage because you were already checked in.So I hope this is all taken care of.
They should be able to just reprint your boarding pass and check your luggage if all is working well.

I don't understand that part because I did the check-in 24 hours before on my laptop last fall and was able to get my boarding pass printed when I checked in my luggage in curbside.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't understand that part because I did the check-in 24 hours before on my laptop last fall and was able to get my boarding pass printed when I checked in my luggage in curbside.

The RAC uses different computer software. Preliminary information, from a good source, said passengers might have to decide what's more important getting an "A" BP at the 24 hour mark or being able to check bags at the resort. We don't know how much money SW has to pay to participate. SW might not care if the implementation discourages use.

There is a delay getting the computer software, hopefully it will work the same as using a skycap at the airport.